Dublin Teen Gang Hunted for £87,000 Heist and Dog Drugging Spree
A criminal gang composed of teenagers as young as 15 years old is currently being hunted by police following a series of burglaries across the Leinster region. The group is suspected of stealing vehicles valued at up to £87,000 and administering sedatives to a family dog during a recent raid.
String of Burglaries and Arson Attacks
The gang is believed to have targeted a family-run business in the Midlands last week, where they allegedly drugged the family's Doberman before stealing multiple vehicles. The stolen items included two Audis, a Ford van, and a motocross bike. Approximately six individuals, all wearing balaclavas, carried out this burglary in the early hours of a Saturday.
In addition to vehicle theft, the thieves are suspected of setting fire to at least one CCTV camera during the raid. While the stolen property has since been recovered, detectives have identified this Dublin-based gang as the prime suspects. The group is also linked to two separate arson attacks over the past 18 months.
Targeting Online Vehicle Sellers
Police sources indicate that the gang specifically targets individuals selling vehicles online. "They mostly seem to target vehicles for sale," a source revealed. "They engage with the seller online and get the Eircode out of them. Then they go to the house, burgle it and take the vehicle. They are absolutely rampant and have their hands in everything."
Officers suspect the same group was responsible for a burglary in the Crumlin area of south Dublin on Wednesday, March 25, where three cars were stolen. CCTV footage appears to show at least five masked men involved in this incident.
Gang Composition and Criminal Connections
The gang is comprised of young people aged between 15 and their early 20s from both north and south Dublin, who have formed a new alliance. Most members are believed to hail from the Bluebell and Ballyfermot areas, while others are said to be former members of the notorious Lucky Dip gang, based largely in Ballymun and Finglas north of the River Liffey.
Some gang members were reportedly involved in a feud linked to a group that included Josh Itseli, 20, who was accidentally shot dead by an associate in Drimnagh in May 2024. The same group was blamed for a pipe bomb attack on a house in south Dublin months later and an arson attack on another property last year, which mistakenly targeted the wrong address.
Additional Criminal Activities and Weapon Concerns
Gardai also believe the gang was paid to carry out an arson attack at a pub in Duleek, County Meath, earlier this year, which resulted in eight cars being destroyed. The pub is believed to have been targeted after an associate of missing drugs baron Sean Dunne was barred from the venue.
Following the January 2 attack, the gang allegedly used a Toyota Avensis as a getaway car. Police later linked this vehicle to a string of burglaries in Drimnagh, Walkinstown, Sallins, and Ratoath. Detectives additionally suspect the group may have access to weapons, including knives, machetes, and at least one firearm.
A Garda spokesman confirmed: "Gardaí are investigating following the report of a burglary and theft of a number of cars at a residential property in Crumlin, Dublin 12 in the early hours of Wednesday 25th March 2026. Investigations are ongoing."
